traitor

Where does the word "traitor" come from? It comes from Latin tradere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

Traitor’s story begins in Latin: tradere meant “to hand over, to betray.” To hand over, to betray, from trans- (across) and dare (to give). Within Latin, it grew into traditor by ancient. One who hands over or betrays, from tradere. From there it passed into Old French as traitre by medieval. Carried into French for a person who betrays trust. It reached English by 1200s as traitor. Settled as the English word for a person who betrays their country or cause. Today, traitor means a person who betrays their country, a cause, or someone's trust.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tradere "to hand over, to betray", to hand over, to betray, from trans- (across) and dare (to give).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient traditor "one who betrays", one who hands over or betrays, from tradere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval traitre "a person who betrays trust", carried into French for a person who betrays trust.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s traitor "a person who betrays their country, cause, or trust", settled as the English word for a person who betrays their country or cause.